Indian Antiquary Vol 58

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 79

Apkil, 1929 ]
GEORGE WELDON AND ABRAHAM XAVARKO
defeat of Sambhuji, had placed the Emperor in a very favourable position. To avert a worse catastrophe, Child obtained a cessation of hostilities, and found himself with no other alternative but to sue for peace at the Court of the Emperor.
Accordingly he wrote a flattering letter to Aurangzeb from the Bombay Castle in February 1688-9, describing him as “Lord of beneficence and Liberalitie, Solomonlike Throne, Epitome of Preisthood, Scanderberg like wisdome, Heavenly Judgment, Potentate of ye world, Center of Security, Emperor of ye Earth and of ye Age, object of all Sublunary things, The Divine Shadow of ye holy Prophett Mahomet, Oramzeib, whose person and Kingdome ye Divine powers long prosper and continue..." In this petition he stated the English grievances and asked for redress. He also complained against the conduct of Mukhtâr Khân, Governor of Surat. Child suavely remarked that he knew it to be quite contrary to the Emperor's wishes that the English should be imprisoned, their money and goods seized. He probably imagined that thus he might secure the Emperor's favour. But Aurangzeb was too shrewd to be influenced by such a laudatory epistle, especially when his own interests were at stake. Child, moreover, emphasized the fact that he had endeavoured to keep the peace with Mukhtar Khân, but to no purpose, and, there being no other alternative, he solicited His Majesty's intervention. He further prayed that all wrongs done to the English might be righted and that they might be able to enjoy the privileges hitherto grantod them by the Emperor.
It may be observed that the Court of Directors at home had been debating the expediency of sending an Ambassador to India in order to secure peace with the Mughal. They were also aware of the serious position of the Indian trade, which was then in danger of being lost. So they decided to petition Parliament to take such measures as would prevent so great a catastrophe 4. The project of sending an Ambassador was however ultimately abandoned.
It was then suggested to Sir John Child that a conciliatory mission should be sent to the Emperor's camp to declare that the English were prepared to restore the goods wrong. fully taken from the Mughal's subjects. On this condition only it was believed peace might be concluded. The merchants of Surat at the same time fearing that they might be ruined, joined with their Governor in advising the Emperor to make peace. The latter already realised fully the extent to which Imperial revenue benefited from the English trade, and also that English men-of-war could do serious damage to the Mughai pilgrim ships sailing to and from Mocha. These considerations made it highly probable that the Mughal would consent to peace.
Accordingly Child and his Council decided to send a mission to the Court of Aurangzeb. Before doing so, however, they considered it advisable to send George Weldon, Barker Hibbins and Abraham Navarro to Daman in order to negotiate a preliminary treaty with
See No. 6660 of 0. O. 47. India Office. There is a copy of this petition in the Addt. MS. 22,185 ; but it does not contain the eulogy to the Emperor quoted above.
4 See pp. 262-63 of Court Book, vol. 35. L.O.
6 Colonel George Weldon came of a well-known English family. His brother, Dom Ralph Bennet Weldon was a Benedictine monk, who left an interesting account of him. George Weldon married Lady (Susanna) Child, widow of Sir John Child. She died on board the Benjamin, April 25, 1697, on her way back to England with her husband. Her body "adomed with jewels to the value of £ 500 sterling" was buried at sea the following day. The Colonel himself met with a tragic end off the coast of Mauritius on July 2 of the same year and was buried in the island. Sir William Norris mentioned in his Journal that he had seen his handsome tomb. There was some confusion about the fortune which he had accumulated in India, and in the interest of his mother and sisters, Brother Bonnet came to England from Paris and fought the case, without result. He subsequently returned to the Continent after spending some months in England. See A Chronicle of the English Benedictine Monks, by Dom Bennet Weldon ; also see 0. C. 7751 and p. 79 of Fifteenth Report Appendix, Pari X., Historical Manuscripts Commission. There is an account of the Weldon family in Hasted's Kent, vol. I.